Christmas Sunshine | Page 3

these palms of peace from heaven
That these lovely spirits
bring?
Rosy feet upon the threshold,
Eager faces peeping through,
With
the first red ray of sunshine,
Chanting cherubs come in view;

Mistletoe and gleaming holly,
Symbols of a blessed day,
In their
chubby hands they carry,
Streaming all along the way.
[Illustration]
Well we know them, never weary
Of their innocent surprise:

Waiting, watching, listening always
With full hearts and tender eyes,

While our little household angels,
White and golden in the sun,


Greet us with the sweet old welcome,--
"Merry Christmas, every
one!"
_Unknown._
Christmas is here;
Winds whistle shrill,
Icy and chill,
Little care
we;
Little we fear
Weather without,
Sheltered about
The
mahogany tree.
Once on the boughs
Birds of rare plume
Sang in its bloom;

Night-birds are we;
Here we carouse,
Singing, like them,
Perched
round the stem
Of the jolly old tree.
Here let us sport,
Boys, as we sit;
Laughter and wit
Flashing so
free.
Life is but short--
When we are gone,
Let them sing on,

Round the old tree.
[Illustration]
Evenings we knew,
Happy as this;
Faces we miss,
Pleasant to see.

Kind hearts and true,
Gentle and just,
Peace to your dust
We
sing round the tree.
Care, like a dun,
Lurks at the gate:
Let the dog wait;
Happy we'll
be!
Drink, every one;
Pile up the coals,
Fill the red bowls,

Round the old tree!
[Illustration]
Drain we the cup,--
Friend, art afraid?
Spirits are laid
In the Red
Sea.
Mantle it up;
Empty it yet;

Let us forget,
Round the old
tree.
Sorrows, begone!
Life and its ills,
Duns and their bills,
Bid me to
flee.
Come with the dawn,
Blue-devil sprite,
Leave us to-night,

Round the old tree.

_W. M. Thackeray._
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Neath Mistletoe, should chance arise,
You may be happy if you're
wise!
Though bored you lie with Pantomime
And Christmas fare
and Christmas rhyme--
One fine old custom don't despise.
If you're a man of enterprise
You'll find, I venture to surmise,
'Tis
pleasant then at Christmas-time
'Neath Mistletoe!
You see they scarcely can disguise
The sparkle of their pretty eyes;

And no one thinks it is a crime,
When goes the merry Christmas
chime,
A rare old rite to exercise
'Neath Mistletoe!
_J. Ashby Sterry._
Mist and cloud and darkness
Veil the wintry hour,
But the sun
dispels them
With his rising power.
Mist and cloud and darkness
Often dim thy day
But a Christmas
glory
Shines upon thy way.
May the Lord of Christmas,
Counsellor and Friend,
Light thy desert
pathway
Even to the end.
_F. R. Havergal._
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